Hercules

In the organizer's words:

Love, jealousy and a murder against one's will are the ingredients of a decidedly dramatic oratorio by George Frideric Handel. After Semele, Barrie Kosky stages Handel's story about the deadly power of jealousy as a parable of human weakness.At the center of the action is not the title character Hercules, but his wife Dejanira. Waiting for her beloved Hercules to return from his conquests has driven her almost mad. When he finally returns home, Dejanira cannot believe that her husband has brought Iole, the daughter of the defeated king, to their home court without any ulterior motives. Dejanira's jealousy is groundless, but she tries to win back her husband's love - which she never lost! - with a gift. The precious robe, however, which a centaur has foisted upon her, is poisoned and Hercules suffers an agonizing death. Dejanira's and Hercules' son Hyllus, on the other hand, finds great happiness in his love for Iole.

The planned premiere of Hercules in the spring of 1745 was ill-starred. Handel quickly wrote several arias for a suddenly available star alto, but she dropped out at the premiere due to illness. After the colleague who stood in for the recitatives was also hoarse, no one could follow the tragic story. The premiere was a flop. It was not until the 19th century that the dramatic power of the work was rediscovered for the stage. With Hercules, director Barrie Kosky devotes himself to another of Handel's oratorios that are rarely staged in this country. In his production, which grows entirely out of the magnificent music, he makes the work sparkle in all its facets, which are as grandiose as they are deeply human.

Don't miss mezzo-soprano Paula Murrihy as Dejanira, who will not only melt the hearts of Greek heroines! This content has been machine translated.

Price information:

15 - 98 €